EMS CHEST INJURY

Course overview

CHEST INJURIES ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY ONE-FOURTH OF ALL TRAUMA-RELATED MORTALITY, SECOND ONLY TO HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. THEY OFTEN REQUIRE RAPID INTERVENTION AND STABILIZATION, WHETHER THEY ARE FROM PENETRATING (I.E., GUNSHOTS, LACERATIONS, PUNCTURES) OR BLUNT (I.E., MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, FALLS, CRUSH INJURY, BLASTS, BURNS) TRAUMA. IN THE SETTING OF ACUTE TRAUMA, THE AIM OF AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE (EMS) SYSTEM IS TO MINIMIZE THE TIME BETWEEN INJURY AND MEDICAL CARE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CHEST INJURIES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.